Charlie Chaplin

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Charlie Chaplin is considered one of the most influential actors in history. After the horrific events of World War I, the world needed a freshener from the death and destruction that laid waste to the Nations of Europe. The broken-down spirits of the broken-down bodies needed an exit, and an entrance. That debut champion was Charlie Chaplin. Playing mainly as his character, the Tramp, the instantly recognizable character with a bowler hat, toothbrush moustache, over-sized shoes and bamboo cane brought entertainment through comedy to people of all ages.
Charles Spencer Chaplin was born on April 16, 1889. He has no recorded place of birth, but is said to have been born in Walworth, South London. His parents were Charlie Chaplin Sr., and Hannah Hill. Charlie had two brothers: Sydney Chaplin, who was born in 1885 to Hannah Chaplin and Sydney Hawkes, and Wheeler Dryden, born in 1892, to Hannah and Leo Dryden. Wheeler was separated from Hannah by Leo, due to her sanity problems.
Charlie is told to have the most successful rags-to-riches story of all time. Born in poverty, Charles Chaplin Sr. left Hannah and her two present children in 1891 to provide for themselves. Hannah had no income, her only job being an unsuccessful career in light-opera singing. With only the odd job, the family barely survived in the streets of London.
A ray of hope shines trough the darkness, when one night, at the age of five, Charlie took over for his mother during a performance. Covering for his mother’s scratching voice, he sweetly sang a popular tune, saving the show and gaining a small amount of appreciation. Sadly, this was not an immediate change in the Chaplin family, and they still sink into poverty.
In and out of workhouses and educated with mea...

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...kly ran through the remaining six films for First National, and became an Independent director under his partnership.
Charlie Chaplin had a total number of four wives, getting divorced to his first three: Mildred Harris (1918-1920), Lita Grey (1924-1927), and Paulette Goddard (1936-1942). He had two children with Lita Grey (which is why they were forced to be married), who were: Charles Jr and Sydney Chaplin. His last wife whom he stayed with until his death was Oona O’Neill (1943-1977). Together, they had eight children: Geraldine, Michael, Josephine, Victoria, Eugene, Jane, Annette and Christopher Chaplin.
The Legacy of the Tramp ended on December 25, 1977, after over eighty-five films ranging from outrageous comedy, to extreme emotion. The death of this great hero touched the hearts of many comedians, as they paid their respects to the king of the Silent era.

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